Complex linkages between forced labor slavery and environmental decline in marine fisheries

Recent media attention on human rights abuses in the fishing sector, precipitated by undercover investigations from nongovernmental organizations and investigative journalists (e.g., Environmental Justice Foundation [EJF] 2014, 2015a, 2015b; Mendoza, McDowell, Mason, and Htusan 2016), has prompted calls from the scientific community for increased transdisciplinary and empirical research of fisheries’ social dimensions, such as labor (Kittinger et al. 2017). Given views that social and ecological systems are interdependent (Ostrom 2009), the need for theory development to explicate pathways for how this interdependence occurs and the potential for using policy and practices for intervention and prevention exist. Integrating ecological data and economics and human rights theory, Brashares and colleagues’ (2014) wildlife decline and social conflict framework offered a hypothesis about the negative association between fish stock declines and child slavery. Yet, more precision in terminology, pathways, and feedbacks may be warranted. With the aim of exploring empirical, conceptual, and theoretical support for Brashares et al.’s (2014) pathways, the revised theory developed in this article posits how forced labor slavery and environmental decline in marine fisheries may be linked

Successful Strategies for Discharging Medicaid Nursing Home Residents with Mental Health Diagnoses to the Community

The state and federal push to transition Medicaid residents from nursing homes to the community calls for effective discharge strategies targeted to residents’ diverse needs. This exploratory, mixed-methods study utilized the Minimum Data Set to describe demographics, health characteristics, and transition patterns of Kansas Medicaid residents with mental health diagnoses who were discharged from nursing homes from 2005 to 2008. Discharged residents (n = 720) had multiple comorbidities, and more than half remained in the community following their first nursing home event. In-depth interviews with nursing home staff (n = 11) explored successful discharge strategies. Successful strategies support an ecological approach to meeting individual, family, organizational, and community needs. This includes creating/sustaining a culture of discharge, encompassing informal and formal community supports in the discharge process, proactively addressing physical environment needs, and assisting individuals and their family members in managing physical and mental health conditions. Findings suggest that policies in the areas of preadmission screening, caregiver support, and revised Medicaid reimbursement are needed to better support continuity of care and promote discharge for nursing home residents with complex care needs. Future research could examine individual and family perspectives on the discharge process and track outcomes when transitioning between settings

As Needed Case Management Across Aging Services in Response to Depression

A lack of clarity on how and where case management for older adults is delivered persists, even as evidence supports its use to respond to depression. We used in-depth interviews with managers (n = 20) and staff surveys (n = 142) from 17 service agencies to explore the provision of case management services in adult day services, homecare, senior centers, and supportive housing. Limited case management services were found. Barriers included limited time and resources, especially for senior centers and supportive housing. Results revealed a concern about the role, feasibility, and availability of case management for older adults within these settings

Perceptions of Participation in Trauma Research among Older Adults.

The need for rigorous research on the risk and consequences of older adult abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation—especially from the perspectives of older adults themselves—has become more imperative as the population in the United States rapidly ages. Researchers have previously demonstrated that trauma-focused research can be conducted ethically; however, researchers have not directly assessed perceived benefits and costs of trauma-focused research among older adult participants. The current study addresses the gap in the literature by examining perceived benefit-to-cost ratios related to participating in a trauma-focused research protocol in a community sample of adults over the age of 60. The sample included 99 ethnically diverse older adults (aged 60–86, mean age = 69.8). Participants’ ratings on the Response to Research Participation Questionnaire (RRPQ) documented a positive benefit-to-cost ratio, demonstrating that older adults’ perceptions of benefits of participating in research outweighed the costs; effect sizes were large. When examining the relationship between symptom distress and perceptions of research participation, PTSD and depressive symptoms were associated with greater emotional reactions. Overall, the findings of the current study demonstrate that, within the context of mindful interview and screening procedures, asking older adults about trauma and maltreatment may be conducted within a favorable benefit-to-cost ratio. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Perceptions of Participation in Trauma Research among Older Adults.

The need for rigorous research on the risk and consequences of older adult abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation— especially from the perspectives of older adults themselves— has become more imperative as the population in the United States rapidly ages. Researchers have previously demonstrated that trauma-focused research can be conducted ethically; however, researchers have not directly assessed perceived benefits and costs of trauma-focused research among older adult participants. The current study addresses the gap in the literature by examining perceived benefit-to-cost ratios related to participating in a trauma-focused research protocol in a community sample of adults over the age of 60. The sample included 99 ethnically diverse older adults (aged 60 – 86, mean age 69.8). Participants’ ratings on the Response to Research Participation Questionnaire (RRPQ) documented a positive benefit-to-cost ratio, demonstrating that older adults’ perceptions of benefits of participating in research outweighed the costs; effect sizes were large. When examining the relationship between symptom distress and perceptions of research participation, PTSD and depressive symptoms were associated with greater emotional reactions. Overall, the findings of the current study demonstrate that, within the context of mindful interview and screening procedures, asking older adults about trauma and maltreatment may be conducted within a favorable benefit-to-cost ratio. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Making time for dissertation grants: Strategies for social work students and educators

Grant writing is a necessary skill for becoming an independent and successful social work researcher. Since social work dissertation grants are a relatively new trend, students face many challenges in identifying, preparing, and submitting dissertation grants. Lack of resources and experiences, difficulties in protecting time for grant writing, and the uncertainty of success can hinder work on dissertation grants. Thus, this article provides an overview of dissertation grants, including a review of grant mechanisms, suggestions for preparing grants in the context of program milestones, and identifying institutional infrastructure to facilitate submissions. Strategies discussed include how to learn about funding priorities, how to establish timelines to account for grant deadlines, and how to use peer reviews to guide the revision process.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62083/1/Dissertation.pd